I no longer await Branagh's _King Lear_ with bated breath and, in fact, would stop it from happening at all had I the superpowers. I hadn't heard good things about _AYLI_, but I went into it with an open mind and enjoyed the first half hour sorta.
Then it struck me how (again) how much I despise Branagh's taste in film music; then it struck me how much Alex Wyndham sounded like he was imitating or channelling Branagh; and then I was struck by Kevin Kline's ability to be misused in Shakespearean films (well, 2 outta 3).
Unbelievably Branagh has almost ruined his _Much Ado about Nothing_, one of my favourite films ever, with this one. This was such a slavish imitation of his own style that he has permanently damaged my ability to enjoy the original. The odd setting seems to have no purpose and mostly detracts. The casting of Brian Blessed as brothers is not successful -- one is always still looking at Brian Blessed. There are a few nice moments, but they are mostly buried in Branagh-isms.
Then it struck me how (again) how much I despise Branagh's taste in film music; then it struck me how much Alex Wyndham sounded like he was imitating or channelling Branagh; and then I was struck by Kevin Kline's ability to be misused in Shakespearean films (well, 2 outta 3).
Unbelievably Branagh has almost ruined his _Much Ado about Nothing_, one of my favourite films ever, with this one. This was such a slavish imitation of his own style that he has permanently damaged my ability to enjoy the original. The odd setting seems to have no purpose and mostly detracts. The casting of Brian Blessed as brothers is not successful -- one is always still looking at Brian Blessed. There are a few nice moments, but they are mostly buried in Branagh-isms.